The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert (WA), which means it was unsuccessful. The motion called for the Government to abandon planned cashless welfare card trials and stop further expansion of the card at current sites.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) two extra trial sites of the cashless welfare card were funded in the 2017-18 Budget,

(ii) the locations being considered to date for these additional trial sites are Port Hedland, East Pilbara, Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Leonora, Broome, Redlands, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast and somewhere in Tasmania, and

(iii) the Government has claimed to be consulting with the community in these areas but has not consulted with those who will be directly affected by the card;

(b) acknowledges that evaluations of the NT Intervention, including compulsory income management, show it met none of its objectives; and

(c) calls on the Government to abandon the additional two trial sites and halt further expansion of the current cashless welfare card sites.

In parliamentary jargon, the majority voted against a disallowance of the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Determination 2015. A disallowance is where either house of Parliament can veto delegated legislation (which is legislation created by the executive, not by Parliament).

The majority voted in favour of passing the bill in the Senate. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read it for a third time.

What does this bill do?

People receiving working-age welfare payments in certain areas would have 80% of their payments placed onto a debit card and 20% of their payments paid in cash. The debit card would not allow cash withdrawal or spending on gambling or alcohol.

This means that the majority of members accepted the main idea of the bill, so it will be considered further.

What does this bill do?

People receiving working-age welfare payments in certain areas would have 80% of their payments placed onto a debit card and 20% of their payments paid in cash. The debit card would not allow cash withdrawal or spending on gambling or alcohol.

How "never voted" is worked out

Normally a person's votes count towards a score which is used to work out a simple
phrase to summarise their position on a policy. However in this case
Stephen Parry
was absent during all divisions for this policy. So, it's impossible to say anything concrete other
than that they have "never voted" on this policy.